The Minister: Cold by Day, Hot by Night-Chapter 25: So Alluring

When Lady Wei heard that Zhi Wan had run into trouble in the Peach Grove, her heart clenched. She guessed it had to be something serious, for her son, who never involved himself in the affairs of the womenfolk, had actually intervened today.

She decided to ask, "Is the Princely Heir back at the residence?"

"He just returned," Nanny Fang replied.

Upon hearing this, Lady Wei immediately rose and went to Qingyun Residence to find Lu Zhan.

When she entered Lu Zhan’s study, he was in the middle of writing a memorial to the throne.

"What were you doing at the Fu Family’s Villa today?" Lady Wei asked directly the moment she entered.

Seeing his mother’s grim expression, Lu Zhan knew she must have heard about Zhi Wan’s incident. He said lightly, "Duan Ling mentioned the scenery at the Fu Family’s Villa was nice and invited me to view the flowers with him."

"Then what danger did Wan’er actually run into?" Lady Wei asked anxiously.

Lu Zhan didn’t even raise his head, continuing to write his memorial. "She was playing around with Ouyang Zhenzhu, got separated from the servants, and ran into Wang Zeren. She was nearly assaulted."

"What?" Lady Wei’s face went pale with shock.

Seeing that she was frightened, Lu Zhan softened his tone. "He didn’t succeed. I happened to be passing by, saw what was happening, and saved her."

Lady Wei patted her chest, overcome with lingering fear.

’Thank goodness Wan’er is alright. Otherwise, when I pass on and reach the underworld, how could I ever face her mother?’

Once she recovered, she said through clenched teeth, "How dare that Wang Zeren? Did you teach him a proper lesson?"

"I did. Wang Zeren also tried to assassinate me. He’s now been thrown in prison to await judgment. Furthermore, his father, Wang Qingde, not only indulges his son’s violent acts but also accepts bribes and perverts the law for personal gain. I am preparing a memorial to the Emperor about it." As Lu Zhan spoke, he finished writing the document.

Lady Wei was stunned. "Does Wang Qingde really take bribes and break the law?"

"Do you think I would frame someone for no reason?" Lu Zhan countered.

Lady Wei said sheepishly, "That’s not what I meant..."

Lu Zhan said lightly, "Wang Qingde has indeed accepted bribes. The Emperor already intended to deal with him. I’m merely giving things a push in the right direction."

Lady Wei also believed her son wouldn’t abuse his public office for personal revenge. If Wang Qingde hadn’t been corrupt himself, why would the Emperor move against him?

"You did very well. I treat Wan’er as my own daughter. If you hadn’t punished Wang Zeren for what happened today, I would have sent my own men to take care of him and get justice for her."

Lu Zhan paused. The image of the poor girl’s tear-streaked face in the Peach Grove, terrified and crying, came to mind. He reminded her, "She had quite a scare today. Mother, you should go and comfort her."

At his words, Lady Wei looked at him in surprise.

’I never expected this son of mine, so cold and indifferent to everyone, to actually show concern for another person.’

’Zhi Wan is still so young, yet she had to face something like this. How helpless and terrified she must have been at that moment?’

Filled with both self-reproach and heartache, Lady Wei could no longer sit still. She hurried to Yaoguang Pavilion.

「Yaoguang Pavilion.」

Zhi Wan had just finished personally applying medicine for Shuang’er and was stepping out of her room when she saw Lady Wei arrive.

"Aunt?" Zhi Wan was both surprised and confused.

’Aunt just left a little while ago. Why is she back already?’

Lady Wei didn’t say a word. Instead, she took Zhi Wan’s hand and led her into her room.

After closing the door, Lady Wei pulled Zhi Wan into an embrace and chided gently, "You silly girl. How could you dare to hide something like that from me?"

As soon as she heard this, Zhi Wan understood that her aunt knew about the incident with Wang Zeren.

She pressed her lips together. ’Cousin must have been the one to tell her, right?’

She quickly explained, "I didn’t mean to hide it from you, Aunt. I was just afraid you would worry. Besides, it also involved my cousin, so I wasn’t sure if I should say anything..."

Lady Wei sighed. "I know you didn’t mean to hide it. Just promise me that if anything like this happens again, you won’t keep it from me."

"Yes," Zhi Wan nodded obediently.

Lady Wei’s heart truly ached for her. She reached out and stroked her head.

’I can’t even imagine... if my son hadn’t happened to be there, what would have become of this girl?’

’Thinking of this, she truly wished she could chop that Wang Zeren into pieces and feed him to the dogs!’

’That filthy piece of trash, so audacious in his depravity, daring to lay a hand on our Wan’er.’

She pressed a hand to her chest to calm her fury, then took Zhi Wan’s hand and said self-reproachfully, "This is my fault, too. I should have arranged for more people to protect you."

She had assumed nothing would happen at the Fu Family’s Villa, but she had been far too complacent. It was her oversight.

With Wan’er being so beautiful, it was only natural she would attract unwanted attention.

"It’s not your fault, Aunt. What happened today was just an accident," Zhi Wan said reassuringly.

Unable to help shifting the blame in her anger, Lady Wei said, "It’s also the Fu family’s fault. How dare they invite someone with a reputation as notorious as Wang Zeren’s."

Hearing this, Zhi Wan paused for a moment before gently reminding her, "Have you forgotten, Aunt? Wang Zeren also came to the flower-viewing banquet at our residence last time. Back then, Lu Xin insisted that I was the one who pushed him into the water."

Lady Wei remembered, her brow furrowing. "But I didn’t have him invited that time..." She trailed off, her expression turning extremely grim. "Was it Lu Xin who invited him? And today’s incident... could it also have something to do with her?"

’Last time, she had only assumed Wang Zeren had tagged along with the sons of other noble families, so she hadn’t investigated it afterward.’

’But thinking about it now, many things didn’t add up.’

’For instance, why would Lu Xin pin the blame on Wan’er for Wang Zeren falling into the water?’

’Had Lu Xin colluded with Wang Zeren to deliberately frame Wan’er?’

’And what about today at the Fu Family’s Villa? How could it be such a coincidence that Wang Zeren just happened to run into Wan’er when she was all alone?’

Seeing that her aunt had already made the connection to Lu Xin, Zhi Wan felt a little pleased, but it wasn’t her place to tell the whole truth. She just shook her head and said, "I’m not sure about that."

’Regardless of whether Lu Xin was directly involved in today’s near-assault, if she hadn’t incited Wang Zeren to harass me last time, I wouldn’t have been targeted by him. And if he hadn’t targeted me, perhaps today’s encounter would never have happened.’

’But she was a little uncertain. Did Lu Zhan overhear what she and Wang Zeren had said back in the Peach Grove?’

’But on second thought, he probably didn’t.’

’She had already been running for a while before Lu Zhan appeared.’

’At this thought, she felt a little more at ease.’

’If Lu Zhan had overheard, he would have surely mentioned it to Aunt. Then, her vehement denial about pushing Wang Zeren at the last banquet would likely be exposed.’

’Even though it had been a necessary expedient, she didn’t want her aunt to know that she had lied and deliberately played the victim.’

Lady Wei was now convinced that the incident with Wang Zeren was connected to Lu Xin.

After leaving Yaoguang Pavilion, she instructed Nanny Fang, "When Lu Xin returns, tell her to come see me."

"Yes."

Lu Xin returned in the evening, her expression utterly grim. Lu Lan, trailing behind her, didn’t dare to make a peep.

Her older sister had thought that with Zhi Wan gone, she would be able to capture Heir Fu’s attention, but she hadn’t counted on Wang Yanran being there.

That Wang Yanran was exceptionally talented and widely renowned. Everyone fawned over her, which in contrast made Lu Xin look like a fool.

But Lu Xin couldn’t read the room and repeatedly tried to get close to Heir Fu, only to be ridiculed by Wang Yanran to the point of utter humiliation.

"Third Miss, the Duchess requests that you go to Lan Courtyard now that you have returned," a servant said, stepping forward.

Lu Xin was in a foul mood and was about to lash out at the servant for stopping her, but when she heard it was Lady Wei summoning her, she quelled her anger and went to Lan Courtyard.

"Aunt," Lu Xin said, giving Lady Wei a curtsy.

Lady Wei shot her a glance. Seeing her somewhat disheveled appearance, she didn’t ask any questions, simply tossing a guest list down in front of her.

"I did not invite Wang Zeren to the last flower-viewing banquet held at the residence. How did he get in?"